Tag: Alhambra

 A candlelight vigil in remembrance of fallen Alhambra Police Department Officer Alec Sanders, who was killed in the line of duty when his patrol cruiser collided with an allegedly stolen SUV during a chase, was held Tuesday night.

“I never heard one bad thing about him,” APD Chief Garrett Kennedy said after the vigil outside the department’s station. “When I would see him, I would ask him, ‘How things are going? Does he enjoy the police department?’ He said he loved it.”

Kennedy said Sanders’ family told him that Sanders had a passion for serving the community and being a police officer, that he just ”truly loved coming to work. He loved serving this community.”

Sanders, who had been with the Alhambra Police Department for just eight months, was covering the shift of a colleague when he was fatally injured. He previously worked for about a year with the Long Beach Police Department.

He is survived by a fiancée, two younger sisters and a brother.

Sanders, 28, died Thursday in the crash around 3 a.m. at the intersection of Edgewood Street and Valley Boulevard.

The crash also killed one of the passengers in the allegedly stolen silver Hyundai SUV. She was identified as 42-year-old Gabriela Moreno, who was ejected from the vehicle in the impact.

On Monday, the driver of the SUV, Steven Ara Zapata, 27, of El Monte, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury and two counts of fleeing a peace officer’s motor vehicle causing death.

Zapata also sustained moderate injuries in the crash and was taken to a hospital, where he was later arrested. It was unclear when Zapata would appear in court for arraignment. 

A third person in the SUV, a 52-year-old man, also sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of an allegedly stolen SUV that collided with a police cruiser, killing one of his passengers and a 28-year-old Alhambra police officer, was charged Monday with murder and other counts.

Steven Ara Zapata, 27, of El Monte, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of reckless driving on a highway causing a specified injury and two counts of fleeing a peace officer’s motor vehicle causing death.

The charges stem from a Thursday pursuit and crash that killed Alhambra police officer Alec Sanders, 28.

One of Zapata’s passengers, 42-year-old Gabriela Moreno, was ejected from the silver Hyundai SUV in the crash and died at the scene, officials said.

It was unclear when Zapata — who was also injured along with another passenger in the Thursday crash — would appear in court for arraignment.

The crash occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Edgewood Street and Valley Boulevard. Police said officers initially responded to the area of Valley Boulevard and Fremont Avenue regarding a pursuit.

It was unclear if Sanders was involved in the pursuit or was responding to it when the crash occurred. It was also unclear if the cruiser had lights and sirens on at the time.

The crash left both the Alhambra police SUV and the Hyundai SUV severely damaged, with airbags deployed.

The cruiser came to rest in the westbound lanes of Valley Boulevard, west of Edgewood, while the Hyundai careened into a parking lot behind a fast-food eatery west of Edgewood.

Video from the scene showed the officer appearing to be unconscious as he was taken in critical condition to Los Angeles General Medical Center, where he died.

Zapata sustained moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was later arrested.

A second passenger in the SUV, a 52-year-old man whose name was not released, sustained more serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries and was also taken to a hospital, the CHP reported.

Sanders, who had been with the Alhambra Police Department for just eight months, was covering the shift of a colleague when he was fatally injured. He previously worked for about a year with the Long Beach Police Department.

He is survived by a fiancée, two younger sisters, and a brother.

A candlelight vigil honoring Sanders is planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Alhambra Police Department headquarters, 211 S. First St.

An observant 7-Eleven employee in Alhambra recognized a subtle sign for help and helped police officers arrest a man suspected of domestic violence.

Body camera footage released by Alhambra police on Sunday shows officers approaching a man and a woman at the convenience store. They were called to the scene after an employee recognized the woman was tucking her thumb underneath her four fingers – a discreet motion created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation to communicate when someone needs help.

“Are you OK? Are you OK? Do you mind if I talk to you really quick?” an officer can be heard asking the woman.

During their investigation, Alhambra police determined a domestic violence incident had taken place. While questioning the suspect, who was identified as John Palombi of Glendale, tried to run but was shortly arrested.

According to police, Palombi had an active warrant for his arrest and was carrying a stun gun.

Shamsher Singh, who works at the 7-Eleven, applauded his colleague for bringing the case to the attention of law enforcement.

“He did a great job because she needed help and that was a good time he did it,” Singh said. “He made a good call.”

Palombi is being held without bail on domestic violence charges. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 11.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.